Mathews moved within one victory of repeating as the state Group A Division 2 girls volleyball champion. The Blue Devils defeated Gate City 3-1 in sets Friday at VCU's Siegel Center, taking the last two sets. Mathews took command early in the third set, going on to win it 25-12. The Blue Devils will face Stuarts Draft, a Shenandoah Valley team that lost a two-set edge but won 15-13 in the fifth against Giles. Softball: Danny Williams was hired as coach at Bruton, where he'll try to help rebuild the Panthers' program.

Baseball: Freshman Ryan Gallaccio pitched a no-hitter in Walsingham Academy 's opener Friday, a 12-0 home victory against Pope John Paul the Great. He struck out six and walked two, telling the Virginia Gazette that he credited Collan Cryts, a Marymount University signee who had three hits in the game, for his great work in calling pitches. “I felt really confident on the hill because I'm comfortable with what he was telling me to throw,” he said. Thomas Chisam went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs.

The Cougars' balanced scoring defeats Gate City, returning Surry to the title game for the first time since 1997. Joe Ellis will admit this much: The Surry County boys basketball team that he coached in the 1997 Group A state final had more talent than his current players. But these Cougars have five starters who play well together. All five average double-figures scoring, and four of them scored in double figures Thursday as Surry beat Gate City 68-55 in a Group A semifinal at the Siegel Center.

Baseball: Brent Haywood leads Mathews to its first state baseball championship. Mathews High finally has a baseball state championship. The baseball team won the school's first state baseball title on Saturday by defeating Gate City 5-1 in the Group A tournament final at Radford University. The star for Mathews (23-3-1) was senior Brent Haywood, who pitched a complete game, struck out eight and hit a two-run homer. "This is awesome," Haywood said. "Winning a state championship is something I've always wanted to do. This is great for everybody at the school and in the town, because it's never been done before.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL QUESTION Third Grade History What was the House of Burgesses? A. A council of American Indians in the Virginia colony. B. A trading center near Jamestown. C. The first school in Virginia. D. The lawmaking body in the Virginia colony. MIDDLE SCHOOL QUESTION Sixth Grade English This old house is _______ than that new house. A. interestinger B. more interestinger C. more interesting D. interesting HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION Earth Science Mud cracks found in the shale road cuts along the Gate City, Virginia, bypass would show that before the sediments were buried the Gate City area was - A. a migration route for animals B. an active earthquake zone C. a wet area exposed to air D. a sand-covered beachfront Friday's answers: 1. C. All people are born free and have equal rights.

SMITHFIELD - Edward F. Shell Sr., age 77, of Plantation Lane, died Tuesday, June 24, 2003, in Obici Hospital, Suffolk. He was a native of Leona Mines, Va., and retired from Wometco Vending Corp. after many years of service. Mr. Shell was a member of First Baptist Church, Weber City, Va. Survivors include wife, Della McClanahan Shell; two daughters, Nina Lynette Gelaude of Auburn Hills, Mich., and Sheila Sue Moore and her husband, Ben, of Newport News; two sons, Edward F. Shell Jr. of Rochester Hills, Mich.

Baseball: Freshman Ryan Gallaccio pitched a no-hitter in Walsingham Academy 's opener Friday, a 12-0 home victory against Pope John Paul the Great. He struck out six and walked two, telling the Virginia Gazette that he credited Collan Cryts, a Marymount University signee who had three hits in the game, for his great work in calling pitches. “I felt really confident on the hill because I'm comfortable with what he was telling me to throw,” he said. Thomas Chisam went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs.

Mathews moved within one victory of repeating as the state Group A Division 2 girls volleyball champion. The Blue Devils defeated Gate City 3-1 in sets Friday at VCU's Siegel Center, taking the last two sets. Mathews took command early in the third set, going on to win it 25-12. The Blue Devils will face Stuarts Draft, a Shenandoah Valley team that lost a two-set edge but won 15-13 in the fifth against Giles. Softball: Danny Williams was hired as coach at Bruton, where he'll try to help rebuild the Panthers' program.

Jesse McMurray's 3-point barrage comes up short for the Blue Devils. Jesse McMurray was at a loss. Puzzled and in disbelief, the Gate City guard squinted at the rim and turned his head. But before he moved, McMurray took another look at the rim before trotting to the other end of the court to play defense. He just couldn't believe that he missed that 3-pointer from the left wing late in the third quarter. "I feel like when I let it go, it's supposed to go in," McMurray said.

The Cougars' balanced scoring defeats Gate City, returning Surry to the title game for the first time since 1997. Joe Ellis will admit this much: The Surry County boys basketball team that he coached in the 1997 Group A state final had more talent than his current players. But these Cougars have five starters who play well together. All five average double-figures scoring, and four of them scored in double figures Thursday as Surry beat Gate City 68-55 in a Group A semifinal at the Siegel Center.

Baseball: Brent Haywood leads Mathews to its first state baseball championship. Mathews High finally has a baseball state championship. The baseball team won the school's first state baseball title on Saturday by defeating Gate City 5-1 in the Group A tournament final at Radford University. The star for Mathews (23-3-1) was senior Brent Haywood, who pitched a complete game, struck out eight and hit a two-run homer. "This is awesome," Haywood said. "Winning a state championship is something I've always wanted to do. This is great for everybody at the school and in the town, because it's never been done before.

SMITHFIELD - Edward F. Shell Sr., age 77, of Plantation Lane, died Tuesday, June 24, 2003, in Obici Hospital, Suffolk. He was a native of Leona Mines, Va., and retired from Wometco Vending Corp. after many years of service. Mr. Shell was a member of First Baptist Church, Weber City, Va. Survivors include wife, Della McClanahan Shell; two daughters, Nina Lynette Gelaude of Auburn Hills, Mich., and Sheila Sue Moore and her husband, Ben, of Newport News; two sons, Edward F. Shell Jr. of Rochester Hills, Mich.

Jesse McMurray's 3-point barrage comes up short for the Blue Devils. Jesse McMurray was at a loss. Puzzled and in disbelief, the Gate City guard squinted at the rim and turned his head. But before he moved, McMurray took another look at the rim before trotting to the other end of the court to play defense. He just couldn't believe that he missed that 3-pointer from the left wing late in the third quarter. "I feel like when I let it go, it's supposed to go in," McMurray said.

The Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star volleyball game has belonged to the West since it began two years. The last two years, the West has won 3-2. And Tuesday, the West squad, led by most valuable player Lindsay Carter of Gate City, blanked the East 3-0 at Hampton University's Holland Hall. The West outlasted the sweltering temperature - the gym is not air-conditioned -to win two come-from-behind games and a third game that just seemed to go its way. The West won the first game 16-14, although the East had led 14-8 before letting the West tick off eight unanswered points.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL QUESTION Third Grade History What was the House of Burgesses? A. A council of American Indians in the Virginia colony. B. A trading center near Jamestown. C. The first school in Virginia. D. The lawmaking body in the Virginia colony. MIDDLE SCHOOL QUESTION Sixth Grade English This old house is _______ than that new house. A. interestinger B. more interestinger C. more interesting D. interesting HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION Earth Science Mud cracks found in the shale road cuts along the Gate City, Virginia, bypass would show that before the sediments were buried the Gate City area was - A. a migration route for animals B. an active earthquake zone C. a wet area exposed to air D. a sand-covered beachfront Friday's answers: 1. C. All people are born free and have equal rights.

The Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star volleyball game has belonged to the West since it began two years. The last two years, the West has won 3-2. And Tuesday, the West squad, led by most valuable player Lindsay Carter of Gate City, blanked the East 3-0 at Hampton University's Holland Hall. The West outlasted the sweltering temperature - the gym is not air-conditioned -to win two come-from-behind games and a third game that just seemed to go its way. The West won the first game 16-14, although the East had led 14-8 before letting the West tick off eight unanswered points.